Microsoft's recent efforts to patch Windows systems against a critical elevation-of-privilege vulnerability, CVE-2025-21204, have introduced an unexpected and somewhat controversial element—a mysterious "inetpub" folder that appears on nearly all updated Windows machines, even those not running...
cve-2025-21204
cybersecurity
filesystem vulnerabilities
inetpub
inetpub folder
it security
junction exploit
junction points
microsoft patch
microsoft patches
ntfs security
permissionshardening
security best practices
security mitigation
security vulnerabilities
symbolic links
symlink attacks
system file protection
system integrity
system security
system vulnerabilities
windows
windows 10
windows 11
windows administration
windows os vulnerabilities
windows patching
windows security
windows server
windows servicing stack
windows system management
windows update
windows update issues
Here is a summary of the original Petri article on the Windows 11 'inetpub' folder security risk:
What happened?
After the April 2025 Patch Tuesday update, a new "inetpub" folder started appearing on Windows 10 and 11 machines.
Microsoft created this folder to help patch a bug (CVE-2025-21204)...
admin tips
administrative permissions
cve-2025-21204
cyberattack prevention
cybersecurity
cybersecurity best practices
directory junction
directory junctions
endpoint protection
file system security
folder permissions
inetpub folder
insider threat
it protection
it security
junction points
local user exploit
malware exploitation
malware risk
microsoft april 2025 update
microsoft patch
microsoft security
microsoft updates
microsoft windows
operating system security
permission hardeningpermissionshardening
security alerts
security mitigation
security patch
security researcher
security vulnerabilities
security vulnerability
security workaround
symbolic link exploit
symbolic links
symlink exploitation
symlink vulnerability
symlinks
sysadmin guide
sysadmin tips
system integrity
system patching
system permissions
system protection
system security
system update bypass
system update security
system vulnerabilities
system vulnerability
update security
windows 10
windows 11
windows defender
windows folder permissions
windows iis
windows patch
windows security
windows security patch
windows security risk
windows security update
windows servicing stack
windows system administration
windows system folder
windows system risks
windows update
windows update fix
windows update management
windows update security
windows update vulnerability
windows updates
windows vulnerabilities
windows vulnerability
